Bathtub with liner



ly 24, 1962 R. G. COQK Em 3,045,254

BATHTUB WITH LINER Filed May 5, 1961 IN VEN TORS ROBE??? G-CQOK BY 5 VANB. CocK ATTORNE VS United States Patent 3,045,254 BATHTUB WITH LINERRobert G. Cook, Rte. 2, and Evan B. Cook, Rte. 3,

both of Urbana, Ohio Filed May 5, 1961, Ser. No. 108,075 Claims. (Cl.4-173) This invention relates to a novel combination of bathand walls ofthe tub, as well as the tops of .the tub walls and provides yielding andnon-slip protection and comfort for the user of the tub, which rendersthe liners especially suitable for use in hospitals and nursing homes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combination of thecharacter indicated above, wherein novel and improved means are providedfor securing the liner in place in the tub and non-shiftably relative tosurrounding tub or other bathroom walls, and for secura-ble engagementwith the hook flange on the access side wall of the tub.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a more comfortableand eflicient bathtub liner which is composed of an outer semi-flexibleimpervious plastic layer, and an inner supporting layer of compressiblematerial, such as foam rubber.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tub linerof the character indicated above, wherein the outer layer lends itselfto being colored and/or embossed with designs whereby-the appearance ofthe tub, and hence that of the bathroom, is rendered attractivelydecorative.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view of a combination of the presentinvention installed in an alcove of a bathroom;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken throughFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse sectiontaken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical section on the scale of FIGURE 3,taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, a bathroom alcove it) has alongitudinal wall 12 and transverse walls 14, and set into the alcove isa tub 16 equipped with a liner 1 8, in accordance with the presentinvention. The bath tub 16 has a bottom wall 20, head and foot end walls22 and 24-, respectively, an inner side wall 26, and an outer or accessside wall 28. The tub walls 22, 24 and 26 have laterally outwardlyextending substantially plain horizontal flanges 30, on their upperedges. The access side ,wall 28 has a l-aterally outwardly extendinghorizontal flange 32'. which terminates in a The liner 18 comprises anelongated pan-shaped form having a bottom wall 38 to lie flat upon thetub bottom 3,045,254 Patented July 24, 1962 ice wall 20, ahead end Wall40 to. conform to and cover the tub head end wall 22, a foot end wall 42to conform to and cover the tub afoot end wall 24, an inner side wall 44to conform to and cover the tub side wall 26, and an outer side wall 46to conform to and cover the outer or access side wall 28 of the tub.

The walls 4%}, 42 and 44- have, on their upper edges, lateral flanges48, to bear conformably upon and cover the tube wall flanges 30. Theliner flanges 48 are on the outer layer only of the liner 18 and arecontinuous around their related liner walls, and terminate in free edgeportions 50 which, as shown-in FIGURES 2 and 4, are inserted upwardlybetween the alcove walls and their tile coverings 36, from their loweredges 52, and preferably secured in place, as by means of cement (notshown).

The liners access wall 46 has, along its upper edge, and continuous withthe flanges 4t} of the liner, a lateral flange 54, on the outer linerlayer only, which conforms to and overlies the tub access wall flange32, as shown in FIG- URE 3. The flange 54 terminates in a U-shaped freeedge portion 56 which extends around the hook flange 34, and has aretaining strap or bar 58, which engages retainably in the groove 69defined between the outer surface of the tub access wall and the hookflange 34.

The liner 18 is composed of an outer or upper layer 62 of semi lexiblewater impervious sheet material, such as the type of plastic materialsused in the molding of pails, dishpans, and the like; and an inner orlower layer 64, adhered to the layer 62 of compressible material, suchas foam rubber. The compressible layer 64 is of sufficient cross sectionand density to provide substantial cushioning for occupants of the tub:16, without undue collapse thereof. The surface of the plastic outerlayer 62 has inherent anti-slip characteristics which prevent slidingand slipping by occupants of the tub.

Although there has been shown and described a prefer-red form of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarilyconfined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of andin the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated asbeing within the scope of the invention as defined by the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a bathroom alcove having a longitudinal wall andtransverse walls, a bath tub positioned in said alcove along saidlongitudinal wall and between the trans-verse Walls, said bath tubhaving a bottom wall, an inner side wall engaged with said longitudinalwall, and head and foot end walls positioned along related ones of saidtransverse walls and an outer access side wall, said alcove Walls havingcoverings thereon having lower edges on a level adjacent to the upperedges of the tub walls, and tub liner disposed coniormably within saidtub and having walls having lateral flanges overlying the top of thewalls of the tub, lateral flanges of the liner being upwardly andsecurably inserted between the tops of the tub walls and the lower edgesof the coverings and bet-ween the covering and related walls of thealcove and means, securing a liner flange to the top of the ac cesssidewall.

2. In combination, a bathroom alcove having a longitudinal wall andtransverse walls, a bath tub positioned in said alcove along saidlongitudinal wall and between the transverse walls, said bath tub havinga bottom wall, an inner side wall engaged with said longitudinal wall,and head and foot end walls positioned along related ones of saidtransverse walls and an outer access sidewall, said alcove Walls havingcoverings thereon having lower edges on a level adjacent to the upperedges of the tub walls, and tub liner disposed conformably within saidtub and having walls having lateral flanges overlying the tops of lowerlayer which bears against the inner surfaces of the tub walls, and anupper impervious semi-flexible layer secured to the lower layer.

3. In combination, a bathroom alcove having a longi tudinal wall andtransverse Walls, a bath tub positioned in said alcove along saidlongitudinal wall and between the transverse walls, said bath tub havinga bottom wall, an inner side wall engaged with said longitudinal wall,and head and foot end walls positioned along related ones of saidtransverse walls and an outer access side wall, said alcove walls havingcoverings thereon having lower edges on a level adjacent to the upperedges of the tub walls, and tub liner disposed conformably within saidtub and having walls having lateral flanges overlying the tops of thewalls of the tub, lateral flanges of the liner being upwardly andsecurably inserted between the tops of the tub walls and the lower edgesof the coverings and between the covering and related walls of thealcove, and means securing a liner flange to the top of the access sidewall, said liner consisting of a resilient and compressible lower layerwhich bears against the inner surfaces of the tub walls, and an upperimpervious semiflexible layer secured to the lower layer, said upperlayer extending beyond the edges of said lower layer, the p01- tions ofthe upper layer outwardly of the lower layer defining said linerflanges.

4. In combination, a bathroom alcove having a longitudinal wall andtransverse walls, a bath tub positioned in said alcove along saidlongitudinal wall and between the transverse walls, said bath tub havinga bottom wall, an inner side wall engaged with said longitudinal wall,and head and foot end walls positioned along related ones of saidtransverse walls and an outer access side wall,

A said alcove walls having coverings thereon having lower edges on alevel adjacent to the upper edges of the tub walls, and tub linerdisposed conformably within said tub and having walls having lateralflanges overlying the tops of the walls of the tub, lateral flanges ofthe liner being upwardly and securably inserted between the tops of thetub walls and the lower edges of the coverings and between the coveringsand related walls of the alcove, and means securing a liner flange tothe top of the access side wall, said liner comprising a resilient andcompressible lower layer which bears against the inner surfaces of thetub walls, and an upper impervious semi-flexible layer secured to thelower layer, said access tub wall having a laterally outwardly extendingtop flange having a pendant hook flange spaced from the upper surfacesof said access wall and defining a groove, and a retaining bar fixed ona top flange of the liner and engaged in said groove. 5. A bath tubliner comprising an elongated pan-shape having a bottom wall, head andfoot end walls, an inner side wall, and an access outer wall, said wallsterminating at their upper edges in laterally outwardly extendingflanges, said liner consisting of a lower resilient and compressiblelayer and an upper semi-flexible layer secured to said lower layer, theperipheral edges of the lower layer being spaced inwardly from theperipheral edges of the upper layer so as to define said flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,571,335 Jarvis Feb. 2, 1926 2,080,601 Cappuccio May 18, 1937 2,197,874Mayers Apr. 23, 1940 2,239,969 Morthland Apr. 29, 1941 2,596,735 SuarezMay 13, 1952 2,650,855 Peirce Sept. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 376,981Great Britain July 21, 1932

